Rhode Island International Film Festival to Highlight French-Language Films

RIIFF continues its annual salute from its Jubilé Franco-Américain

The 11th Annual Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) announced Wednesday its 2007 season, showing over 321 films from around the world in venues in Providence and throughout Rhode Island from August 7-12.

RIIFF has received national and international recognition and is a qualifying festival with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (“the Oscars”™). The largest film festival in New England, it includes films from many genres, as well as gala events and educational workshops.

In 1997, RIIFF sprang out of the Jubilé Franco-Américain held in Woonsocket, R.I. in the heart of the French-speaking Blackstone Valley. By 1998, RIIFF was firmly established as its own entity and hosted the world premiere of the Farrelly Brothers acclaimed "There's Something About Mary."

Jubilé programming has been designed to celebrate cultural expression in all its many forms and encourage understanding and appreciation for different cultures. RIIFF continues to support Jubilé with its French and French-Canadian programming in the Festival.

Highlights of this year’s films include:

Demain la veille (France) at the Providence Library on August 10 at 3:00 p.m.
Bob is a 30 year old man like all others: he walks backwards, loses his memory, his skills, like a good citizen. But one night, he wakes up in sweat realizing that the world that he lives in is not ‘normal’.

Il est né le divin enfant (France) at the Providence Library on August 10 at 3:00 p.m.
It's Christmas Eve, but Max couldn't care less. He's been working for 15 days non stop on his medical PhD and his only wish is to sleep before the midnight supper which should normally take place at his brother in law Yvan's. Unfortunately for Max, Yvan has other plans.

Le Paradis d'Arthur (Quebec) at the Columbus Cinematheque on August 9 at 2:00 p.m.
Set against fantasy backdrop portrayed by every day life and its wonders, Arthur the farmer invites us to a journey into the heart of his rural life, to the discovery of a strange and fragile world where music can sometimes play a strong and unexpected role.

Les accros de l'Anachronisme (Quebec) at URI Feinstein Theater on August 12 at 5:00 p.m.
Addicted to Anachronism is a documentary film traveling alongside a few passionate fans of the medieval world in Québec, France and the United States. This documentary explores their quest for happiness through recreating a period in history.

Moi (Quebec) at the Columbus Cinematheque on August 11 at 6:00 p.m.
Moi tells the story of Alexis, 15 years old. Passionate about cinema, he dreams of becoming a film director. But, his life will collapse the day when, through the gaze of others, he will suddenly become aware of his reality.